Rapper Macklemore began his “Free Palestine” tour in Dublin on Monday, his first since he was dropped as a tour opener for singer Ed Sheeran.
Macklemore is also set to play Paris and London this week as part of a tour that has all proceeds going to charities that benefit Palestinian causes. The rapper also donated the $1 million he made from the Sheeran tour to charities.
On Sept. 14, Macklemore was dropped from Mr. Sheeran’s tour after he said “free Palestine” and made other comments about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict onstage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
People were interested in these podcasts
Macklemore and Mr. Sheeran were set to play in the Boston area’s Gillette Stadium, owned by Robert Kraft, when the rapper said the arena’s owner was pushing him off the tour for the Palestine comments.
Mr. Kraft, who is Jewish, said the rapper violated the venue’s code of conduct on hate speech.
Macklemore commented on the fallout Monday night.
“Six weeks ago, it was two words,” he said. “Two words is all that it took. Two words that are rooted in love and liberation. Not against anybody, not divisive. Not a call for hatred. But a call to recognize our shared humanity. Free Palestine. I said, free Palestine.
“The same thing that I want for all of us: freedom, dignity, the right to exist without fear. Being able to raise our children in the homes that we grew up in, not having to prove our humanity to the rest of the world.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.